Manchester United vs Crystal Palace - Team Line Ups

Robin Van Persie and Danny Welbeck

With four points from a possible nine, this is Manchester United’s lowest points total after three games since 2008-09 (also with four points).

Furthermore, this is the first time Manchester United have failed to score in back-to-back Premier League games since 2007. Reds’ manager David Moyes will be keenly looking to amend that. A considerably easy game against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford could well be that opening, having never lost to them in their previous eight league meetings.

New signing Marouane Fellaini could make his debut for the Premier League champions. The Belgian is likely to make an appearance this weekend, but injury problems for the Red Devils may mean his role is slightly different to the one he will be expected to play more regularly.

Specially due to the possible absence of Wayne Rooney, he may be required to play in a more attacking role. Rooney’s head injury problems mean he is unlikely to start at the weekend and may not even participate at all, meaning Moyes must look for alternatives in the role behind the striker.

Japan’s attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa could fill in that position and is hoping his international form has convinced manager David Moyes to name him in the starting line-up.

The 24-year-old is yet to feature in any of Manchester United’s Premier League games this season – the only appearance coming against Wigan Athletic in the Community Shield. In Japan’s recent friendly against Ghana, Kagawa showed his class in scoring a fine goal after working out space for him to hit the shot. He showcased cutting-edge sharpness in attack that Manchester United have been clearly lacking in recent weeks.

The Reds’ impressive start at Swansea has been followed by a stalemate with Chelsea and then a narrow defeat at Anfield, leaving David Moyes pondering over possible midfield changes. Every United fan will expect three points from against Palace, their newly-promoted opponents.

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has been handed an £18,000 fine and a two-game touchline ban, starting with this match. It is interesting to note here when he was in charge of Blackpool in the Premier League, his team had a real go against Manchester United, scoring twice both home and away only to end up losing the two games. A win here with his latest club really would be headline news.

Interestingly enough, Crystal Palace were actually victorious the last time they played at Old Trafford – 2-1 after extra time in a Carling Cup tie a couple of years ago.

Back to the starting line-ups. United also await a recovery update on Phil Jones, who has been suffering with an ankle injury. The defender is expected to undergo fitness test later in the week.

Jones limped out of United’s 0-1 defeat to Liverpool before the international break, causing him to miss England’s World Cup qualifiers with Moldova last Friday and the midweek trip to Ukraine.

Wilfried Zaha, United’s buy for £20 million last January, is still not confirmed of a starting place on the team.

He then enjoyed an eye-catching pre-season tour of Australia and the Far East under the Reds’ manager. But with his former club next up at Old Trafford, a Premier League debut in front of an appreciative home audience could be the perfect scenario to unleash Zaha and get going his fledgling United career.

Moyes will be eager to keep his midfield partnership of Micheal Carrick and Tom Cleverly intact, and will be expected to start behind Fellaini, while Valencia and Welbeck would look to provide striker Robin van Persie, with passes and assisting shots from either wing. At the back, we may see the usual line up of Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand and Jones.

For Crystal Palace, new boy Barry Bannan and loan signing Cameron Jerome are both likely to feature at Old Trafford. Jonathan Parr could return after missing five months through injury.